The NCAA is putting in place new core guarantees for college athletes. Formerly known as the student-athlete holistic model, these core guarantees will enhance student-athlete benefits and services, expand scholarship protections and enhance expectations of Division I schools.

Who is covered by the core guarantees?

    The core guarantees cover student-athletes at Division I schools, plus student-athletes at a Division II or III school participating in a Division I sport.

When do these core guarantees go into effect?

    The core guarantees became effective Aug. 1, 2024.

Do college athletes need to take action to benefit from the core guarantees?

    Student-athletes competing in Division I schools don’t need to do anything to be covered by these benefits. These requirements are for schools.

BENEFITS EXPLAINER

Academic services, career counseling and life skills training

These core guarantees require schools to provide student-athletes academic services and career counseling. Schools also must provide life skills training and education in at least nine specified areas:

• Mental health.
• Diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging.*
• Sexual violence prevention.
• Transfer requirements.
• Strength and conditioning.
• Nutrition.
• Financial literacy.
• Career preparation.
• Name, image and likeness opportunities.

*Please note: A blanket waiver impacting these requirements has been approved for 2025.

Health care and medical services

These core guarantees expand the standard of care beyond the autonomy schools to all of Division I. They require schools to cover medical costs for an athletically related injury for at least two years after either graduation or separation from the school, or until the student-athlete qualifies for coverage under the NCAA Catastrophic Injury Insurance Program, whichever occurs first. They also include out-of-pocket medical expenses, such as coinsurance, copayments, deductibles and other medical expenses not reimbursed by insurance.

The NCAA also sponsors the Post-Eligibility Insurance Program for student-athletes in all three divisions. This is considered “excess coverage” from what Division I schools are required to provide and does not replace a school’s obligation to provide medical care.

Division I schools will need to attest to being in compliance with consensus-based guidance on providing health, safety and performance support as identified by the NCAA Board of Governors, such as Cardiac Care Best Practices, Mental Health Best Practices and the Concussion Safety Protocol Checklist.

Scholarship protections

Any new athletics aid agreements must meet new requirements designed to mirror existing protections already provided to most scholarship student-athletes attending autonomy schools.

Schools cannot reduce, cancel or fail to renew athletics aid for athletics reasons, such as:

• Injury.
• Physical or mental illness.
• Athletic ability or performance.
• Contribution to team success.
• Roster management decisions.

Degree completion program

These core guarantees expand the eligibility for degree completion funding to any former student-athlete who received a scholarship in a head-count sport (football, basketball, women’s gymnastics, women’s volleyball and women’s tennis) or who received financial aid that resulted in the value of full tuition and fees, living expenses and required course-related books while at the school.